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Team bongo mexico #4472 survive the hammers - koh 2011 post race report

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Team bongo mexico #4472 survive the hammers - koh 2011 post race report - GRACIAS

TEAM MEXICO #4472 starting on spot #37
Jose Manuel Ponce & Dave Gutwillig

Dave Gutwillig racing his fabrication while Ponce rides shot gun.


“ WOW! Now we know why they call it the hammers! We felt like we were being hammered on from all sides for 12 hours, including internally. The whoops and train track desert bumps were just retarded and really hard on both the car and us. Fastest we went was 85mph (138kph) in the open flat lake section and we played it safe due to the high winds. The first lap was really sketchy in the desert sections due to all the dust in the morning. The Piñata buggie worked great on the rock sections and we went by fairly quickly unless if there was a traffic jam. The only problems we had were a blown valve stem from bumping into another stopped car, loose electrical connector, and bad gps visibility. We ran only four 37 inch stickies and no bead locks, and no communication radio. IRC helped us out with a tracking device just in case we broke down, we could be easily located. Congrats to all the teams that participated. “ Stated Ponce and Dave.

Ponce starting of the race while Dave navigates his fabrication




This unique team has tried the LCQ twice in the past and this time they returned as a guest star international team to participate in the main race. Ponce was unable to finish his race rig on time and ended up partnering up with Javier’s Gulf Coast Crawl Shop and Dave Gutwillig. “Javier Ibarra and his crew are tight and 110% pro, I have seen them race and knew they could help pull Team Mexico thru the finish, I am glad they accepted my offer, Gracias Amigos. I would like to especially thank Javier Ibarra for putting up his shop, tools, rv, tow rig, and trailer as well as Dave Gutwillig for prepping the Piñata Buggie to pass tech and survive the race. Dave’s fabrication is the best race buggie I have ever driven and it crawled and raced like a world class machine. Dave is an excellent desert racer and crawler, we both helped each other to keep cool and finish. I have raced and finished the WRC Mexico twice without any prior rally experience, but when compared to the King of the Hammers, which is a new type of motorsport that combines 120 miles (193kms) of the most brutal rock trails and open desert terrain known to man, KOH is way more challenging and has lived up to its name of being the toughest off road race on the planet” Stated Ponce.

Ponce and Dave getting ready for takeoff into Planet KOH


The team chose to run using a unique strategy that worked well, Ponce started and ended the race driving the desert sections and then switching off to navigational duties, while Dave Gutwillig (fabricator and owner of the Piñata buggie) raced the rock and other desert sections. Overall it was a great learning experience and we will be back next year with more Bongo to try and finish in the top 20. Dave and Ponce will be running 2 rigs in 2012 and will make sure to pre run next time at least 2 times and mount a large view GPS unit, along with radio communications. Recce is the key to be able to go fast. They both have also been signed on the new Dyno Max Off road Race Teams Program and are dealing with other new partners. Both will also be concentrating on racing the new Baja Texas Racing and Texas EDR Series. Ponce will head back in April to Norway to do some rally and Nordic off road racing. Ponce still remains the only driver in the world that has competed in the rock motorsports of rock crawling and rock racing since 2006 in Mexico, Venezuela, USA and Norway where he has learned new racing techniques to help him survive and finish 2 WRC events without any prior rally experience and now a KOH; his new addiction of desert rock racing has now begun. Dave also plans on doing more desert racing and has some new fabrication concepts that he will be adapting to race and crawl faster.





REMOTE PIT – BAJA PITS AND JAVIER’S GULF COAST CRAWL SHOP PITTING TEAM MEXICO (These guys made it happened - Gracias)


Ponce and Dave at the finish



The Team would like to thank their main partners LAREDO CVB OF LAREDO TEXAS, JAVIER’S GULF COAST CRAWL SHOP, RAMSEY WINCHES, IRC Tracking, LIZARD SKIN, QUARTERMILE GRAPHICS, SAMS LIQUOR, PRP Seats, FOA Shocks, TOM WOODS Drive shafts, PSC, MASTER PULL, BAJA PITS, BIKE BARN, Liberty Country Constables Office Precinct, and Northwest Machine Shop.

Other sponsors include Javier’s Autos Unlimited, Rusty’s Offroad, Ameri-Freight Auto Transport, Moods of Norway, Latination TV, Despain Automotive, TacoTote of Laredo, Allied/Raceline Wheels, Pronto Muffler Shop of Laredo, Triple J Express, JACAMAN WINES, FRS Energy, H.E.B. Supermarkets, Pizza Hut of Laredo, Casanova 4x4, Wine Country Motorsports, Taco Palenque, DJ Safety, Despain Automotive, Rugged Radios, Ajeepear.com, Wamel, Dental Creations Lab, PCI Race Radios, Laredo Performance, Offroad Mexico News, Zona Car Mexico, Bower Media Productions, Rally Buzz, Pirate 4x4 TV, Wicked Mag, Crawl Mag and Track-Any-Car.com


The Team would also like to thank the following amigos who helped them thru out the race.

Dave Cole and Jeff Knoll, Hammerking Productions, and all the volunteers.
Damien Gioia – Baja 1000 and VORRA racer - Cal Neva Extreme (KOH recce notes)
Don, Shannon and Nick Campbell, Loren Healy, Danny Grimes, Dustin and Becca Webster, RJ Brown for racing advice.
KOH Tech Staff – Rob and Shawn, and Carrie Steiner
Javier Ibarra – Gulf Coast Crawl Shop Owner - Head Coach and Crew Chief
Marcos Ibarra – Gulf Coast Crawl Shop - Pit Crew
Natasha Gutwillig – Gulf Coast Crawl Shop - Photography and Video
BJ Kohlleppel alias el Pop Corn – The Sealy Boys - Pit Crew
Austin Bitner Alias el Butter – The Sealy Boys - Pit Crew
Thomas Ellis alias el Jorgen – The Sealy Boys - Pit Crew
Mario Madrigal - Redding Black Sheep 4x4 – Pit Support
Tom Wehrlie – Pit Support
Becca Sherbundy – Photography and Video
Robert Andresen – Photography and Video
Jorge Roberto Lopez Moreno y la raza de JLFabworks de Nogales,Sonora Mexico – Photos & Cheering at Backdoor
Raul Vega de Zamora, Michoacán from Orange Country who showed up for the 2nd year in a row to cheer us on.
Baja Pits – Remote Pit – Gracias Andy
Chris Ridgeway – Trent Fab Team #23 – For Winch Support
Louie Keener and son, and Heath Catron of Balls Out Motorsports.
Wyatt from Triple Nickel Racing for lending us his fuel cans.
Matrix Dane of the Holigan Crew for helping us locate parts for Shawn Inman & the Texas Crawling Chaos Buddies.

Great to see Chris Cole, Stacie Albright, Jessi Combs, Lance & Renee, Camo, Angie Knoll, Charlene, Louie and Heath, Don, Shannon and Nick Campbell, RJ Brown and Casey Trujillo (667 Rockers), Alex and Emil of Master Pull, THE KING Loren Healy (who proved that an LCQ can bring it on), Dean Bullock, Matt of Dyno Max, Brent and Greg of 4 wheel parts, Krusty, Ragnar Robertson of Iceland, Ben of Australia, Jeff Mello, Ritchie Keller, Brandon and the Smorr Crew, Doug Bigelow, Mike Coleville and the PAC crew, Roger Lovell, Jose Lugo, Joel Withers, Desert Fab Crew, Carlos Benegas de Honduras, and our KOH neighbors the Crawling Chaos of Texas Crew.

A pleasure to meet Les Figueroa, Rally Shaun SMC, Jack Childers, Derek Trent, Jorge Torres from Goodyear, Aaron of PRP, Greg Mulkey, Charlene Bower, Albert Sarabia, Fabio and Laura Manno of Team Italy, Jimmy of PCI, JT Taylor, Cassie Currie, Tom of Roark Supply, Tony Pellegrino, Curtis Warner/Kris Fraser and the Crazy Canadians, Casey from Austin, and everyone else who helped in some way and enjoyed our Scorpion Mezcal and Dill Aquavit by the nightly bomb fires.

Once again Gracias and see you all soon! BONGO! BONGO! BONGO!

Racing done in memory of guitar legend, LOUIE ALFREDO PONCE. As well as el Pachangas and Pepper.

Click here for more info about the LAREDO WORLD RALLY TEAM www.worldrallyteam.com and JAVIER'S GULF COAST CRAWL SHOP www.gulfcoastcrawlshop.com

WRT MEDIA
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one of the highlights of my week was getting a chance to drink beer with mi amigos at the finish line. Congrats on the well deserved finish!
Rally buzz world news - king of the hammers 2011

Gracias Sr. Bigelow, always a pleasure to toast and learn from you big dogs. :D

RALLY BUZZ WORLD NEWS - KING OF THE HAMMERS 2011

TEAM MEXICO SURVIVE AND FINISH THE TOUGHEST RACE ON THE PLANET
Click HERE to read the Rally Buzz of Europe article
http://www.rallybuzz.com/laredo-wrt-koth-2011-rep/

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Kris, we're gonna need a prerunner for next year! Think your Jeep is up to it? :D
The only thing holding me back is the need for a bigger radiator. Hopefully soon I can get that swapped and it's on! Hell ya!
Offroad mexico news/bfg mexico news of the king of the hammers 2011

Cobretura del King of the Hammers por OFFROAD MEXICO - BFG Mexico News
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE


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congrats again guys. it was great getting to know y'all and hanging out by the fire. (even if i did steer clear of the mescal).
Ponce man it was great to meet and hang out with you. I had an absolute blast man. Hopefully soon you can show me around Norway. Hope wd can do it again before KOH 2012. Take care brotha
Jorgen
Aka Thomas
Bongo, Bongo, Bongo

Wow what a week guys. Its taking me this long to just stop seeing the little gremlins from all the Mescal. Awsome job on the finish man.

Looks like we are going to Vegas for the Silver State 300 in April you guys should come out and pit for us and spread the bongo. Hey this is a chase race so I see a rental car rally also.
Gracias Amigos

Que paso Casey, we will try and make it out to the Canyons Offroad Park Trail run in Fredricksburg this weekend, but no promises, trying to prep for a rally race. :smokin:

Jorgen, I mean Thomas...anytime bro, keep in touch. Snakkes, hade bra:)

Louie, thanx again for lending me your helmet for the race. I really would love to go to the SS300 but my duty calls in vikingland. But Im sure I will see you before I depart. I will be there in spirit :grinpimp: Call me and I can mail you some Scorpion Mezcal for you to take to Vegas.



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Whose buggy was that before you guys got it?
Whose buggy was that before you guys got it?
It's our buggy, we built it here at our shop. Ponce's ride wasn't ready for KOH so he called us up to see what we had to race. It took a little work, but we got it prepped and 4400 legal in 3 weeks.
TEAM MEXICO #4472 Ponce and Gutwillig

Whose buggy was that before you guys got it?

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PONCE AND DAVE/JAIVER GULF COAST CRAWL SHOP

THAT BUGGIE ROCKS!

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BONGO BUDDY, sorry I missed out this year, next year for sure!!

Dane
BONGO BUDDY, sorry I missed out this year, next year for sure!!

Dane
Dane, thanks again for your help locating that 300!!
Interesting Statistics about the King of the Hammers 2011

Saludos

Ponce :D y Dave :grinpimp:



YouTube - Pirate4x4TV March 2011 - Episode 18 Featuring Jessi Combs

Statistics about the King of the Hammers 2011

Some interesting statistics about this year's KING OF THE HAMMERS 2011

Starters 1-24 did not advance on their starting position.
Dean Bulloch passed more people than anyone (76) to get to 20th place. Hussey passed the 2nd most (68) and didn't top 20. Shannon passed 61.
Ponce/Gutwillig TEAM MEXICO #4472 were the only team to start and end in the same position (spot #37.) Team Mexico had limited resources which included only 4 good 37" Sticky tires, no beadlocks, no gps, and no radio communications gear to report back to their pit area.

Starting position vs finish by groups
1-10 4 DNF, 6 top 20, 4 top 10
11-20 8 DNF, No top 20
21-30 6 DNF, 2 top 20
31-40 3 DNF, 4 top 20, 3 top 10 (Team Bongo Mexico started in this group)
41-50 4 DNF, 3 top 20, 2 top 10
51-60 5 DNF, 2 top 20
61-70 3 DNF, 2 top 20, (Shannon Campbell started in this group)
71-80 6 DNF
81-90 6 DNF
91-100 8 DNF, 1 top 20

The biggest cluster of DNFs was starting positions 12-23; Only 1 finished from that group and lost 24 positions.
Starting positions 64-95 had no top 20 finishers
Best finish by row goes to #18 Ferravanti (6) & Scherer (3), 2nd best was row #1 Adler (5) & Jordan (8)
14 rows both drivers didn't finish, 11 rows both drivers did finish
Rows 34 & 35 were the only subsequent rows to finish (Adams, Haines, Currie, Carter) but none of them finished in the top 20
Casie Currie barely made the cut off with only 1:39 min left before the cut off time of 9pm (you only get 14 hours to race). Casey started in 2 and ended up in 47th.
Brad Lovell started in 7th spot and did not finish, his brother Roger started 9th and finished 17th.


Top 20 finishers of 2011 KOH qualified through:
2 former winners
7 others from Top 20 of 2010

KOH 2011 Guest star International Teams
Ponce and Gutwillig from Team Mexico, Fabio Manno from Italy, Ben Napier from Australia, Ragnar Robertsson from Iceland, and Curtis Warner from Canada, and 2 other teams from Germany and Ireland but they did not show or either pass the first tech. KOH has 2 techs.
Only Team Australia and Mexico finished in the allowed time. Italy finished after the cut off.


Only 1 from the OG13, who could have also used alternate forms of entry
1 Sponsor Entry
5 from the Stampede
1 from the Grand Slam
3 LCQ'ers

For the finishers of 21st on:
4 more Top 20 of 2010
3 more Stampede
2 more OG13
2 Harlan qualifiers
1 RCQ'r
3 from SMORR
5 more LCQ'ers
1 International
1 more Grand Slam
and 5 that I'm not sure how they qualified
Analysis by Crawl Mag

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You need to be nuts to race the King of the Hammers

Last night we were talking about what one does when you have to take a whizz or a dump while racing, or even worse when its almost 12 hours its now dark and you start feeling like this:
YouTube - Timothy Leary - Nice Dreams
Pirate 4x4 TV coverage of the King of the Hammers, the toughest one day race!

Join us March 8, 2011 at 6:00PM PST for Pirate4x4TV Live featuring the full podium of finishers from this year's Griffin King of the Hammers!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH PIRATE 4x4 TV LIVE

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Team bongo mexico #4472 - Fotos por Rebecca Sherbundy

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES











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Good luck to all the underdog teams at KOH 2013

Posting this for all the underdog teams headed to KOH 2013.


We wont be making it out this year but just wanted to let you know that we will be cheering all the underdog teams racing in the KOH EMC and KOH race. Hope these pics and info here will help pump your teams up! More pics of how to finish King of the Hammers on an extreme budget and still have tons of fun.:grinpimp:

Here is an image of Team Mexico that was sent to us that came out on Jalopnik. This was when we started and finished in #37 out of 100 teams 100 teams with no GPS, no beadlocks, no radio communication gear, only one non sticky spare tire, and CHINGO DUCT TAPE!
Click here for the article
The Ten Toughest Motor Races In The World



GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE TEAMS THIS YEAR AND CONGRATS ON THE KOH STAFF!


Greetings from vikingland,


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4
Posting this for all the underdog teams headed to KOH 2013.


We wont be making it out this year but just wanted to let you know that we will be cheering all the underdog teams racing in the KOH EMC and KOH race. Hope these pics and info here will help pump your teams up! More pics of how to finish King of the Hammers on an extreme budget and still have tons of fun.:grinpimp:

Here is an image of Team Mexico that was sent to us that came out on Jalopnik. This was when we started and finished in #37 out of 100 teams 100 teams with no GPS, no beadlocks, no radio communication gear, only one non sticky spare tire, and CHINGO DUCT TAPE!
Click here for the article
The Ten Toughest Motor Races In The World



GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE TEAMS THIS YEAR AND CONGRATS ON THE KOH STAFF!


Greetings from vikingland,


No disrespect...but how does a Mexican fit in with all that snow?:flipoff2:

You and your team will be missed Ponce! If I make it on KOH after dark I will give you a shout out:grinpimp:
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